I must admit I'm late to the Enz party on this and have (horror of horrors) just discovered this song. I love it, and can't stop watching the video (oh so 80s!) on YouTube. So catchy, and with a great funk feel to it.

My fave is this YOuTube video-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDzvonF6exY -- Yes, there's a lot mugging for the camera (but fine bass miming by Tim!), but it conveys the song well. I just can't get enough of Neil and Tim's lil' dance work! Do they still do it at Spli Enz shows today?

(An off-topic aside, but I recall a video on YouTube of Split Enz performing "I'll Walk Away" on some UK Top of the Pops-type show. Neil looks very serious (and/or nervous) throughout, 'til he cracks into a smile about halfway through. Sound familar to anyone?)

Ah, the wonderful Countdown! You had to ham it up for Countdown. It was a requirement! Where was Nigel that day? I know it's been discussed before.

This is a favourite song of mine. I always loved the line "press gangs wait to ambush the weak and weary", for some reason.

Laughing at the video! Gotta love good old Countdown, it really was a must watch for myself and most of my generation at 6pm every Sunday night. The sets, the artists trying to look like they're playing instruments that in fact they are not playing at all (Tim & Noel are proof of exactly this) and the lip syncing, well just thats legendary

As for the song, I think it's one of their best and also love the feel of it, you just want to start moving & grooving to it! As for the dance work, can't say I noticed the lads getting into it at the recent shows but thats probably cos my buddies and I were doing our own moves, not looking to the left then not looking to the right ....

"Recorded exclusively for countdown"? I'm pretty sure that this was not a countdown exclusive performance of the song. I can't believe they would make a statement like that and then show a video that is so obviously overdubbed. Why is Tim playing bass? What happened the bass player? And why are there two drummers on a song that barely sounds like it has one drummer?

The song is fine but this performance and TV show are terrible (in a terribly funny way). thanks for sharing.

Thanks for posting this link--I read or heard about this one somewhere and have wanted to see it for the sheer joy of seeing Tim with a bass...

Miming or not, those boys are, um, so talented .

Nigel was apparently ill, which is why he wasn't there. Lovely to see Paul Hester captured in his youth on this clip as well .

quote:

Originally posted by Paināporo:
"Recorded exclusively for countdown"? I'm pretty sure that this was not a countdown exclusive performance of the song. I can't believe they would make a statement like that and then show a video that is so obviously overdubbed. Why is Tim playing bass? What happened the bass player? And why are there two drummers on a song that barely sounds like it has one drummer?

The song is fine but this performance and TV show are terrible (in a terribly funny way). thanks for sharing.

Paināporo, I see your location is in the USA so will assume that you're not aware of the show Countdown (and please correct me if I'm wrong )

Countdown was an Australian music show from the 70's and 80's and was around before MTV started. It was on a 6pm Sunday night and it was certainly my favourite show, couldn't wait to park myself in front of the telly to see what music was in store for us that night! It was set in a studio here in Melbourne with an audience of mostly teenagers (myself included once, satin pants & Sherbet t-shirt, thought I was very ) and performers used to come in and play, lypsycning the majority of the time. Here is a good site that may give you more info http://www.countdownmemories.com/ and to be honest, it certainly helped shape the music industry in Australia by exposing some unknown talent and also by giving established artists, like the Enz, a medium to premiere any new material.

So now I will defend Countdown I'm sure they meant that this particular performance was recorded exclusively for Countdown, not the song itself. As for Tim playing bass and why there were 2 drummers, who knows, it was the 80's, it was Countdown and to be honest, more than likely back there, no-one really would have minded

there were two drummers because during the recording of Conflicting Emotions only two songs have real drums on them, Message To My Girl played by Ricky Fatarr and Strait Old Line plyed by Noel. It was decided after the recording of Conflicting Emotions that Noel would go back to percussion and they would hire a new drummer, enter Paul Hester and hence why there is a drummer and a PERCUSSIONIST in the clip. Nigel was also sick that day, this is referenced in Merry Christmas To The Frenz Of The Enz, I believe they may have been recorded at the same time

I think it's a delightful slice of 80s smarm. And as one poster mentioned on the Youtube comments, Neil has really stepped up here as a front man. Is it the passage of time, or is it part of the Countdown experience?

And I'm digging Paul looking a little Sheila E behind the drums...

Ahhh I love that clip (even if some people do think it twee)After all, it was Countdown where I first saw The Enz as a four year old sitting on my grandparents lounge room floor. And of course classic Neil almost running into people and things

I never saw Countdown as I wasn't born here, wasn't in Australia at the time - but of course the legend of Countdown has lived on, and to see this clip is just great, thanks for posting it up.

What a hoot! Neil is practically hyper, and Tim is doing an almost consciously bad pretence at playing the bass. It's everything I've heard about Countdown in the eighties .

I enjoyed it immensely .

Everyone appeared on Countdown. You didn't have to be famous or in the top 10 or be played on radio. They gave everyone a go. That's what made the show so great. They were the show that helped with the success of such bands as Abba and Blondie in Australia.

This is definately a Countdown clip.
Countdown rarely played the vids of the songs, they usually had the band perform "live" in the studio which meant we had extra great versions of different songs. I couldn't wait to see my fav bands ham it up - much more fun than the same old boring clips everyweek. I'm sure everyone has seen the I Hope I Never clip with Neil playing piano cause Eddie was sick!
You should see the clip of Walking On The Moon by the Police on Countdown 1980. Sting doesn't even bother to play the bass at all.

Sure the clips were cheesy but if you're gonna love a band this old, you're gonna see and hear the 70's and 80's in all it's glory!

Painaporo, didn't you recognise little Paul Hester? He was so young and so fresh. Abit sad now really.

Aha, that was great, thanks for linking it! Love those dance moves and the set as well!